Nā Manu ʻŌiwi consists of activewear inspired by three extinct birds and two endangered birds, like a chilling conversation in which the ʻŌʻō, Poʻouli, and ʻUla ʻAi Hāwane tell the story of their disappearance as they urge to the Kiwikiu and ʻĀkohekohe, “Donʻt be like us.” It serves as a haunting reminder that our native species are going extinct every year - and it’s up to us to stop it. Portions of the sale from Nā Manu ʻŌiwi will be donated to Friends of Hakalau Forest to support their efforts in native bird and habitat conservation.

Poʻouli is a name given by Mary Kawena Pukui, translating to “black head.” The Poʻouli showed off an endless variety of brown shades, no other manu nahele Hawaiʻi is quite like it! Also known as the “blackface honeycreeper,” it was first “discovered” in 1973 with an estimated total population of 200 birds.

Poʻouli strictly inhabited the rainforests in Hana on the slopes of Haleakalā, and fed primarily on small land snails, beetles, and butterfly larvae. They would forage for these small insects in the sub-canopy and understory in moss and bark of branches of native shrubs and trees. While not much is known about the Poʻouli, it is hypothesized the introduction of feral pigs ultimately led to their extinction. Poʻouli appeared to prefer areas with low levels of soil and vegetation disturbance, and a 463% increase in feral pig activity at the time of study would have been all too damaging to that ground cover habitat the Poʻouli thrived in.

The last known Poʻouli died on 11/26/2004.

For more information on Poʻouli, visit https://www.iucnredlist.org and search the scientific name Melamprosops phaeosoma.